Tape tensioning means for cable wrapping machines



S. F. FRENCH July 31, 1934.

TAPE TENSIONING MEANS FOR CABLE WRAPPING MACHINES Filed May 25. 1932 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR STANLEY E FRENCH ATTORNEY l Q- m S. F. FRENCHJuly 31, 1934.

TAPE TENSIONING MEANS FOR CABLE WRAPPING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledMay 25. 1932 STANLEY E ENCH I ATTORNEY Patented July 31, 1934 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE TAPE TENSIONING MEANS FOR CABLE WRAPPING MACHINESApplication May 25, 1932, Serial No. 613,377

12 Claims.

This invention relates to cable, conductor and core wrapping machinesand more particularly to machines adapted to apply one or a number ofwrappings such as tapes, flat strips or cords 6 and the like of paper,insulating material and the like, spirally or in concentric layers toany object such as cables, conductors, wires and the like. In machinesof this type it is highly desirable to provide means to maintain apredeter- 10 mined or desired tension on the tape as it is being wrappedupon the cable, and to provide means that will be adjustableparticularly while the machine itself is in operation. Heretofore in theart many mechanically operating means have been proposed but all suchmechanically operating means have certain disadvantages which it is oneof the objects of the present invention to overcome.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electricallyoperating 'means to maintain a predetermined, desired and substantiallyconstant tension in the individual tapes, strips or cords of paper,insulating material and the like comprising the wrapping.

Another object of this invention is to provide means to vary the tensionof the said wrapping and the individual strips, tapes, cords and thelike comprising the same to any desired value within the specificvariable limits of the tensioning means provided and also to providemeans adapted to be adjusted while the wrapping machine itself is inoperation.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide means toobtain 'a constant indication or measure of the amount of tension thatis being applied to the individual strips, tapes or cord materialcomprising the wrapping as they are being applied to the cable orconductor surface.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the invention ismore fully hereinafter disclosed.

In accordance with the objects of the present invention I have devisedan arrangement of elements including an electrically. operated brakingmeans by means of which a desired and substantially constant tension maybe obtained upon the individual tape, (strip or cord) comprising thewrapping as it is being applied to the cable or conductor surface. Thespecific tensioning means devised is automatically operative to maintainthis desired tension despite the normally variable operating speedconditions existing in such wrapping machines and visually indicatestheamount of the tension being applied to the wrapping. The tensioningmeans provided are also adapted to be adjusted or varied to give a.desired or different tension in the wrapping while the wrapping machineitself is in motion. These and other features of the present inventionwill be more fully hereinafter disclosed.

Before further disclosing the nature and scope of the present invention,reference should be made to the accompanying drawings wherein isillustrated as a specific embodiment of the present invention theapplication of the same to cable,- conductor and core wrapping machinesof the planetary type. Referring to the drawings- I Fig. 1 illustrates afront view of a taping head of a planetary taping machine adapted toapply paper or tape to a cable or conductor, and incorporating theelectrically operative tensioning means of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a front view of the same with pad removed; and

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the electrical circuitinvolved in the tensioning means of the present invention.

In the drawings numeral 1 represents a suitable frame or head mounted ona spider and rotating about point 2 which is the center of the conductor11. Hub 3 is mounted thereon on an anti-friction bearing and is adaptedto carry roll 4 of strip material which it is desired to apply to thesurface of cable 11 to comprise the wrapping. In accordance with thepresent invention the desired tension is given to the strip (or tapematerial) as it is laid upon the cable 11 by passing the strip 4' as itpasses from the roll 4 to the cable 11 over a rotatable drum 8 in suchmanner as to cause the same to frictionally contact with the surfacethereof. The drum 8 is provided with electrically controlled brakingmeans whereby sufficient resistance to rotation is imparted to give tothe tape 4' at point X the desired amount of tension.

In the specific illustration shown in the drawings the electricallyoperated braking means on drum 8 comprises an electric motor 13 gearedthrough reduction gear 14 and shaft 15 to the drum 8 in such manner thatupon energization of the motor 13 by suitable electric current, themotor tends to cause drum 8 to rotate in a direction opposite to thedirection of travel of tape 4'. Tape 4' being in frictional engagementwith the surface. of drum 8 thus turns said drum in a direction oppositeto its normal direction of rota-J tion, the amount of tension in tape 4'with any given constant forward movement being proportional to theamount of torque imparted to the drum 8 by the motor 13. Instead of themotorized arrangement shown other electrically controlled braking meanscan be adapted to perform the same function such as, for example,electromagnetic means, dynamo, etc. If desired, a mechanical brakeelectrically controlled or actuated may be employed.

In the specific embodiment shown in the drawings, tape 4' is firstpassed over a contact roller 5 which is free to rotate about a point 6and which is kept in contact with friction drum 8 by spring tensionmeans '7 mounted in hub 9. The tape 4' is then passed over friction drum8 from the roller 5 then over guide rollers 10 and 12 to cable 11.Rollers 5, 10 and 12 are all mounted on antifriction bearings tominimize mechanical and changeable friction.

Roller 12 is a ball-bearing guide roller adjustable to permit tape 4 tofeed to cable 11 at the required angle, and the longitudinal axis ofroller 12 lies in a plane substantially parallel to the longitudinalaxis of the conductor or cable 11, substantially as indicated in thefigures of the drawings. A roller of the type described and claimedincopending application, Serial No. 621,568, filed July 9, 1932 by StanleyF. French and Ernest L. Junghanns, which application is assigned to thesame assignee as is the present application, may be used instead of thespecific roller herein described.

Friction drum 8 is rotated by tape 4' in a direction opposite to itsnormal direction of rotation if left free to revolve, the electriccontrol circuit supplying current to the motor being provided with meansto maintain the torque of the motor 13 and drum 8 substantiallyconstant. The circuit also comprises means to vary this torque as may bedesired, contact roller 5 being adapted by spring-tension means '7 tomaintain the said tape 4' in contact with drum 8 at all speeds at asubstantially constant pressure. Q

The electric motor 13 is of the type adapted to run at a constant speedwith constant load and to vary in torque directly with variations in thecurrent input, and is mounted upon theframe directly in the rear of theapparatus heretofore described, as is indicated in the drawings,particularly in Fig. 2. In the figures, the motor 13 is shown mounted onframe 1 together with a speed reducer 14 and shaft extension 15.Friction drum 8 is mounted on and secured to shaft extension 15. Whenthe motor is energized the rotation of the motor shaft is transmittedthrough the speed reducer 14 and shaft 15 into drum 8.

The roll of strip material 4 is mounted upon hub 3 which is supportedupon an anti-friction bearing, and is therefore free to turn about itsaxis as the strip material 4 is wound upon the cable 11. The entiretaping head revolves about the cable axis and when the machine isstopped the roll 4 will continue to revolve on its own axis due to itsown momentum, if left entirely free to rotate. It is necessary thereforeto provide means to retard the rotation of the roll when the machine isdecreased in speed and also to provide means to prevent further rotationof the roll when the machine is stopped. Any means that is provided mustbe adapted to supply the tape from the roll to the friction drum 8 at asubstantially constant tension.

The specific means I have devised to accomplish this comprises an arm 16pivoted at point 17 on the frame 1 and provided with a spring 18operating to pull arm 16 to the position indicated in dotted line 16'.The end of arm 16 is provided with a friction reel 19 having adjustablemeans 20 to apply thereto a fixed and desired resistance to rotation. Asthe tape roll unwinds, arm 16 by means of spring 18 maintains thefriction reel 19 in substantially constant contact with the tape rollsurface and opposes the unrolling of the tape consequently placing atension on the tape 4' which at point P, for example, will remainsubstantially constant from maximum to minimum diameter of the taperoll. The amount of this tension may be varied and set to any desiredfigure by varying the resistance to rotation of the friction wheel byadjustable means 20.

Instead of the specific tape roll friction means herein described, thefriction means disclosed in copending application by Ernest L.Junghanns, Serial No. 621,064 filed July 6, 1932 may be utilized ifdesired. This copending application is assigned to the same assignee asthe present application.

In Fig. 4 is'shown in schematic diagram the electrical circuit adaptedto be used with the present invention. The electric current to operatemotor 13 may be drawn from a constant voltage line through terminals21-22. This current passes through switch 23, ammeter 24,.rheostat 25 tomotor 13 through suitable collector rings 26-27 arranged so that theelectric control circuit would be able to draw current from its sourcewhile the planetary taping machine is in operation. A time delay relay28 is included in the circuit, the terminals 29 and 30 of which areconnected to the main starting motor switch to provide that the controlcircuit is not operable until the main starting motor circuit operatingthe planetary taping machine has been closed. To provide that thetension apparatus should not be disconnected until the taping machinehas come to a standstill, an auxiliary switch 31 is also included in thecitcuit which switch is mounted upon the main drive shaft and is adaptedto be closed only when the shaft rotates and to normally open when theshaft stops rotating. Ammeter 24 and rheostat 25 are each mounted upon astationary part of the frame and in a readily accessible and observableposition. Switch 23 is also so located.

In the normal operation of planetary taping machines including thetension control of the present invention, switch 23 in the controlcircuit is closed, the rheostat 25 is adjusted to introduce the requiredor desired resistance in the electric circuit to give the desiredcurrent to operate motor 13. The main motor switch thereafter is closedand relay 28 operates to close its portion in the tension controlcircuit, and as the planetary taping machine starts to revolve theauxiliary switch 31 closes. Motor '13 then operates to apply the desiredtorque on drum 8 and the desired tension in tape 4' winding upon cable11 is thereby obtained. To vary this tension it is only necessary tovary the current supplied .to motor 13 by means of rheostat 25. Ammeter24 may be calibrated directly in pounds by measuring the tension atpoint X at given current values,

the results being plotted as is well known in theart. Having once beencalibrated it is only necessary to vary the current in order to obtainany desired tension and indication of same in the tape or strip.

Having broadly and specifically disclosed the present invention, it isapparent that the same may be modified and adapted to meet a'variety ofdesired situations without departing essentially from the nature andscope thereof as may be set forth in the following claims.

WhatI claim is:

1, In cable, conductor and core wrappi machines, means to applytensionto the wrapping being applied, said means including a rotatabledrum over which the wrapping is passed, means to frictionally engage thewrapping with the drum surface at a substantially constant pressure andelectrically controlled braking means for said drum.

2. In cable, conductor and core wrapping machines, means to applytension to the wrapping being applied, said means including a rotatabledrum over which the wrapping is passed, means to irictionally engage thewrapping with the surface at a substantially constant pres== sure,adjustable braking means for said drum and electrically operating meansto adjust said bra means.

3. In cable, conductor d core wrapping machines, means to apply tensionto the wrapping being applied, said means a rotatable d over which thewrapping is passed, means tofrictionally engage the wrapping with the itusurface at a substantially constant pressure, means to apply torque tosaid w in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of thewrapping thereover, and electrical control me for said torque applyingmeans.

4. In cable, conductor d core wrapping 111051, chines, means to applytension to the pping being applied, said means including a rotatableover which the wrapping is passed, means to frictionally engage thepping with the one surface at a substantially constantpressure, means.to apply torque to said in a direction opposite to the direction oftravel of the wrapping thereover, said including an electric motorgeared to apply torque to said 1 1m. in the desired tion, and means tocontrol the current input of said motor.

' 5. In cable, conductor and core wrappi n chines, means to main apredetermineddesired and substantially constant tension on the wrappingbeing applied, said me including a rotatable over which the saidwrapping is passed, means to contact the wrapping therewith at asubstantially constant pressure and means to apply torque to said drumin. a direction opposite to the direction of travel of said wrappinelectrical control means therefor and means to close the electriccircuit energ said control means in response to positive energization ofthe said cable pping machine.

6. In cable, conductor d core wrapp mire. chines, means to maintain apredeteed desired and substantially constant tension on the wrappingbeing applied, said means including a rotatable drum over which the saidwrapping is passed, means to contact the wrapping therewith at asubstantially constant pressure and means to apply torque to said drumin a direction opposite to the direction of travel of said wrapping,electrical control means therefor and auxiliary switch means to closethe electric circuit energizing said control means when the said cablewrapping machine is in operation and to open said circuit when the saidmachine is not in operation.

'i. In cable, conductor and core wrapping machines, means to maintain apredetermined desired and substantially constant tension on thewrappings being applied, said means including a rotatable drum overwhich the said wrapping is passed, means to contact the wrappingtherewith at a substantially constant pressure and means to apply torqueto said drum in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of saidwrapping, electrically operating control means therefor, an electriccircuit therefor, said circuit including means comprising an electricalrelay device in series in the electric circuit energizing saidcontrolmeans to close the circuit when the mainpower circuit driving the saidcable wrapping machine is energized and auxiliary switch means also inseries in said circuit adapted to close the said circuit when the saidcable wrapping machine is in operation and to open said circuit when thesaid cable wrapping machine is not in operation.

8. In cable, conductor and core wrapping machines of the planetary type,a rotatable head, a tape roll supported thereon and adapted to be freelyrotatable about its center axis, a rotatable drum, means to pass thetape from said roll over said drum to the cable upon which it is to bewound, means to contact said tape with the surface of the drum at asubstantially constant pressure, electrically controlled braking meansfor said drum, and means to place the tape under a substantiallyconstant tension as it feeds to the said drum from said tape roll.

9. In cable, conductor and core wrapping machines ot the planetary type,a rotatable head, a tape roll supported thereon and adapted to be freelyrotatable about its axis, frictional means to limit the degree of saidrotation to give a substantially constant tension to the tape unwindingtherefrom, a rotatable drum supported adjacent said roll, means to passthe unwinding tape over said drum to the cable upon which it is to bewound, means to contact said tape with the surface of the r n at asubstantially constant pressure, means to app torque to said drum in adirection opposite to the direction of travel of said tape, andelectrical means to control the said torque applying means.

It. In cable, conductor and core wrapping machines of the planetarytype, a rotatable head, a tape roll supported thereon and adapted to befreely rotatable about its axis, frictional means to limit the degree ofsaid rotation to give a substantially constant tension to the tapeunwinding therefrom, a rotatable drum supported adjacent said roll,means to pass the unwinding tape over said drum to the cable upon whichit is to be wound, means to contact said tape with the surface of the ata substantially constant pressure, means to apply torque to said drum ina direction opposite to the direction of travel oi" said tape, saidmeans including an electric motor geared to apply torque to said drumand an electric circuit to supply current thereto, said circuitincluding means to vary the current input to said motor, means toindicate the amount of said current, and means to automatically open andclose the said circuit in response to energization and deenergization oithe said wrapping machine.

11. An electric braking means for a rotatable drum, including anelectric motor geared to apply torque to said drum in a desireddirection and an electric circuit to supply current thereto, saidcircuit including ineans to vary the current input to said motor, meansto indicate the amount of said current, electrical relay means to closeand open said circuit upon the closing of a main electric circuitoperating mechanism cooperating with the said rotatable drum andauxiliary switch means mounted upon the main drive shaft of saidcooperating mechanism and operating to close the said braking circuit inresponse to rotation or said shaft and to .open the, same when saidrotation ceases.

12. In cable, conductor and corejw rapping" ma chines oi the planetarytype, a rotatable head, a tape roll supported thereon andadaptedto befreely revolved about its center-axis and friction means limiting theamount of said rotation, said means comprising a pivoted lever arm,spring

